Cae caepentee



(No Model.)

G. CARPENTER Safety Step for Freight Oars.

No. 238,484. Patented March 8,1881.

N. 7512125, Pl WLIYNOGRAPH'ER. WASNINGYON, c.

Warren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAR CARPENTER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SAFETY-STEP FOR FREIGHT-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,484, dated March 8, 1881.

' Application filed J annary 10, 1881. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may"; concern Be it known that I, GAR CARPENTER, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have made certain Improvements in Safety-Steps for Coupling Freight-Oars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device to be attached to the ends of freight-cars, so that a brakeman by standingjn it can, in perfect safety, couple or uncouple any car that uses either the old link-and-pin or any other coupling device, theobject being to save the lives and limbs of railroad employs in making up freighttrains; and the invention consists in a partlyinclosed platform for the brakeman to stand in, which is set between the outside bumper or end of the car and the draw-head, a place for it being recessed in or fastened against the frame, floor, or platform of the car just far enough so that when the opposite car comes against and presses in the draw-bar it will not strike or interfere with this inclosed platform, all as hereinafter fully specified.

In the drawing, the figure represents a perspective of the end of a freight-car, showing my device attached thereto.

A represents the end (or platform) of the car, which in freight-cars is usually very narrow, and sometimes provided with end bumpers, b, and sometimes not. A recess, a, when'there is a platform, is formed in it between the bumper b and the coupling draw-head B, and in thisis fastened a downwardly-projecting partition, 0, either of wood, iron, or iron rods, coming down in front of the wheel-truck (not shown) to about eighteen inches above the track. It is bent over, if of metal, into a step, 0, and then bent n p or otherwise formed, as at c, to form a guard to protect the feet. In addition to this, an upright post, cl, is fastened to the step or platform 0, and stands up about as high as the knees, and from this several stout iron rails, 60, curve around and are fastened to the piece 0, making a guard for the legs ofthe man standing in this cage. The piece (or pieces) 0 is to be suitably braced by bars running under the car and fastened to the under side of the floor or frame. There will be two of these cages or safety-steps on each car, one at each end, and usually on the right-hand side, so that when the cars come together these cages are not exactly opposite each other, but on opposite sides, so that they cannot come in contact.

The step proper G, being but a few inches above the rails, allows a man to couple and uncouple without bending or stooping, and he is entirely safe from contact with the opposite car or from being thrown off by any movement or concussion of the cars.

This device may be made of all metal, flat, or of rails, or all wood, or wood and metal, of sufficientstrength to withstand the rough usage that freight-cars are subjected to.

Instead of the rails e e, the guard may be in one or more pieces bent or rounded into shape and attached to the part 0 and post (I.

I am aware that a safety-step with a rail forming the means of attachment and a support upon one side has been known, and I do not claim such; but

What I do claim is- The herein-described safety-step, consisting of the solid hack 0 and platform 0, an upright, d, on one side, and a guard, 0, extending from the post around the bottom edge of the platform on the side next the coupling, and the guards c c, all constructed and arranged so as to inclose the platform 0, except a small space on one side farthest from the coupling, as set forth. I

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OAR CARPENTER.

Witnesses J. R. DRAKE, Gno. A. BURNETT. 

